When performing a slope stability analysis, it is useful to compare the results obtained through limit equilibrium and finite element calculations. To facilitate this, Slide v6 files can be imported into RS2 v9.

Rocscience is pleased to be in Sao Paulo, Brazil on June 26, 2015, delivering a one-day workshop on Rocscience Tools for Settlement Analysis in Soils. Register now to reserve your spot!

With the launch of our new website, we are happy to introduce new licensing options that will give the user more options when purchasing. Read about the changes here.

This paper was presented at the IFCEE in San Antonio by Riccardo Cappa, Samuel Yniesta, Anne Lemnitzer, Scott J. Brandenberg, and Ali Shafiee. Analysis results from Settle3D were plotted against the measured settlements observed during the 9m radius centrifuge study. The Settle3D results are shown to match the test data very well.

This paper was presented at the IFCEE in San Antonio by Riccardo Cappa, Samuel Yniesta, Anne Lemnitzer, Scott J. Brandenberg, and Ali Shafiee. Analysis results from Settle3D were plotted against the measured settlements observed during the 9m radius centrifuge study. The Settle3D results are shown to match the test data very well.

We will be providing a one-day course on Rocscience tools for Settlement Analysis in Santiago, Chile on May 18. Register now to reserve your spot!

Experimental evidence indicates that plastic deformation in soils starts from the early stages of loading. The typical elasto-perfect plastic models are not adequate for capturing such behavior - constitutive models that utilize a hardening law after initial yielding are required. Take a look at how new constitutive models have been incorporated into RS2.

A summary of the paper by N.H. Jafari, T.D. Stark, A.L. Leopold, and S.M. Merry, where RS3 and Slide are used to perform a 3D parametric analysis to investigate the effects of landslide excavation on landside hydraulic gradients.

A summary of the paper by N.H. Jafari, T.D. Stark, A.L. Leopold, and S.M. Merry, where RS3 and Slide are used to perform a 3D parametric analysis to investigate the effects of landslide excavation on landside hydraulic gradients.

2014

Embankment consolidation at t=10 daysRS2 Release - RS2 is an exciting new upgrade with a multitude of exciting new features such as coupled/uncoupled fluid-solid analysis (consolidation), dynamic analysis, new constitutive models, transient groundwater, and many more! These new features (consolidation, new material models, transient groundwater analysis, and dynamic analysis capabilities) enhance the ability of RS2 to model problems in soil. With these important additions, RS2 is a well-rounded program for the analysis of problems in both rock and soil.Request your free trial today!

We are delighted to be providing two one-day workshops in Auckland, New Zealand, in March 2015. For workshop details, and to register, please see our NZ Workshops Registration page. John and Evelyn also recently returned from India, where John delivered two workshops.

Rocscience appreciates feedback on our software and trial version program. As a thank you, we are offering you the chance to win an Ipad Mini. The winner will be announced in the next RocNews!To request a trial version please fill out the Evaluation Request Form.

After 15+ years with Rocscience, we would like to wish Cathy Weston all the best as she heads into retirement.Congratulations, Cathy, on your retirement!

We are heading to South America in August 2014. We will be in both Lima and Santiago! There are a limited number of spots remaining! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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if you are interested in receiving more information about possible visits or workshops.

Three times a year, we have a new group of student interns join us at Rocscience, and they always contribute in important ways. Read what our recent Winter 2014 Students had to say about their experience with us.

Settle3D Release - The Settle3D beta program was a big success! After receiving a lot of good feedback and many customer suggestions, it has now been released. Take a look at the the new features that we have added to the program as a result of the beta program.

RocPlane and Swedge upgrades have been released.RocPlane version 3.0 includes a number of new features including Design Standards, Bench Design, Wedge Scaling, and Probabilistic Analysis. The program interface has also been updated, and includes an improved Info Viewer and more display customization options.Swedge Version 6.0 is also being released, featuring a new basal plane, bench design, design standards, failure mode filter and more water pressure options. What's New in Swedge 6.0

What Can I Model Using RS3 Many of your questions are answered about the wide range of models that can be created using this program.

Rocscience is offering a 2-day course in Vigo, Spain, Numerical Modeling in Rock Engineering. We are also heading to South America in 2014. We will be in both Lima and Santiago! Stay tuned for details.

Rocscience has two upcoming Australia workshops. We will be holding workshops in conjunction with the EAGCG and WAGCG Geotechnical Conferences. We are also heading to South America in 2014. We will be in both Lima and Santiago! Stay tuned for details.

2013

Modeling Foundations in RS3 - Deep foundation piles are commonly used to increase foundation stability and to increase the bearing capacity of structural systems. The design and analysis of these piles may be done using a finite element program. As numerical modeling becomes more common in geotechnical engineering and design, it becomes increasingly important to understand the accuracy, and limitations, of numerical modeling tools. This article looks at a number of pile raft models in detail.

Top Project Power Cavern Design & Back Analysis Using Phase2This article is a summary based on a published paper and work performed by M. Kellaway, D. Taylor and G.J. Keyter of Braamhoek Consultants Joint Venture.

Power Cavern Design & Back Analysis Using Phase2This article is a summary based on a published paper and work performed by M. Kellaway, D. Taylor and G.J. Keyter of Braamhoek Consultants Joint Venture.

RocFall 5.0 marks a major upgrade to both the analysis capabilities and usability of RocFall. Check out the new features in RocFall 5.0 Upgrade.The Rocscience Knowledge Base is being added to all the time. Be sure to take a look at this great resource for answering many of your technical support questions. Quantification of the Geological Strength Index Chart, by E. Hoek, T.G. Carter and M.S. Diederichs - This important paper was recently presented by Dr. Hoek at the 47th Rock Mechanics Symposium in San Francisco.

Rocscience Workshops are now being scheduled for 2013-14. We plan to give workshops in the following locations: Istanbul, Turkey; Australia; Vigo, Spain; Lima, Peru; Santiago, Chile. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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if you would like more information on a workshop in any of these locations.PERUMIN 2013 Follow-Up This was a very successful conference and exhibition, which welcomed more than 75,000 mining entrepreneurs and professionals from over 40 countries.PERUMIN 2013 Seguimiento - Esta fue una conferencia y exhibiciÃ³n muy exitosa que le dio la bienvenida a mÃ¡s de 75,000 personas entre empresarios mineros y profesionales de mÃ¡s de 40 paÃ­ses.

The long awaited update to RocFall is nearing the beta testing stage and we will be looking for beta testers in July 2013. The program has been updated with a wealth of new features. The latest version is the result of 4 years of research and development into a new Rigid Body Impact Mechanics (RBIM) model that fully considers rock shape and size. Read more.

Knowledge Base Rocscience Knowledge Base - It's New! We have prepared a short tour (click above) of our new Knowledge Base so you can quickly get acquainted with this fast and easy way to find the answers to your software questions. To go directly to the Knowledge Base, click here.

Rocscience Knowledge Base - It's New! We have prepared a short tour (click above) of our new Knowledge Base so you can quickly get acquainted with this fast and easy way to find the answers to your software questions. To go directly to the Knowledge Base, click here.

Use RS3 for 3D geotechnical analysis, software that is particularly useful for users of other Rocscience soil analysis programs. Read more.

RS3 1.0 is a result of more than 10 years of development and research. Now Rocscience is preparing for one of our most important new software releases, a 3D finite element analysis program for civil and mining applications. We would like to invite you to join the Beta Testing Program and contribute your ideas and expertise. Your feedback will be a benefit to everyone.RS3 = Rock and Soil 3-dimensional analysis program.RS3 joins the suite of Rocscience software which can be used both for rock and soil geotechnical engineering analysis. Modeling and analysis capabilities include excavation design and support, tunnel design, surface excavations, groundwater seepage analysis coupled stress / pore pressure analysis, and slope stability.

Tech News RocTopple 1.0 - An Interview with the Developer Our latest software release, RocTopple, is now available and doing quite well. Grace Huang, the lead developer on this project, talks about the challenges, the surprises and the contributions our beta testers made to improve the program.

RocTopple 1.0 - An Interview with the Developer Our latest software release, RocTopple, is now available and doing quite well. Grace Huang, the lead developer on this project, talks about the challenges, the surprises and the contributions our beta testers made to improve the program.

Our Fall Student Interns finished their terms at Rocscience last December. It's renewal time for the Rocscience Education Program. Read what is new in Issue 7.

Tech News Examine2D 8.0 is here! - Rocscience is pleased to announce the release of this upgrade to our very popular FREE stress analysis program.Examine2D uses the boundary element method for calculating stresses and displacements around underground and surface excavations in rock.

Examine2D 8.0 is here! - Rocscience is pleased to announce the release of this upgrade to our very popular FREE stress analysis program.Examine2D uses the boundary element method for calculating stresses and displacements around underground and surface excavations in rock.

Dips version 6.0 has arrived, a major new upgrade to our popular stereonet analysis program. New features in Dips 6.0 include a comprehensive kinematic analysis toolkit for planar, wedge and toppling analysis; significant improvements to the user interface and graphical interactivity; dip vector and intersection plotting; fuzzy cluster analysis and much more. Read more.

Tech News New Rocscience Software Licensing With the release of Dips 6.0, Rocscience has implemented a new licensing system, which now includes Personal, Portable and Flexible licenses. This new licensing system offers new features for our users and will be introduced into our other software products as we upgrade them in the future.

New Rocscience Software Licensing With the release of Dips 6.0, Rocscience has implemented a new licensing system, which now includes Personal, Portable and Flexible licenses. This new licensing system offers new features for our users and will be introduced into our other software products as we upgrade them in the future.

Rocscience has been giving a series of workshops in Santiago and Lima. If you would like to attend one of our future South American workshops, be sure to contact us. Read more.

2nd South American Symposium on Rock Mechanics, San Jose, Costa Rica, Aug. 6-10, booth 4.The Use of Deep Foundations for Landslides and Slope Stabilization, Nashville, TN, USA, Aug. 14-15, find us at our booth.GeoManitoba 2012, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, Sept. 30 - Oct. 3, we will have a booth there.37th Annual DFI Conference, Houston, Texas, USA, Oct. 16-19. Visit us at booth 206. Watch for more details about our upcoming trip to Brazil. Contact us if you are interested in receiving more information about possible visits or workshops.

Can Slide do back analysis? The answer is YES. Read More about the various methods using Slide and other Rocscience software in cases where there has been a slope failure.

Developer's Tips Active or Passive Support Modeling in Slide A variety of support types can be modeled in Slide using either Active or Passive force application. This developerâs tip aims to clarify the definition of Active or Passive support and provide some guidance on the values of support capacity that are recommended for each method.

Active or Passive Support Modeling in Slide A variety of support types can be modeled in Slide using either Active or Passive force application. This developerâs tip aims to clarify the definition of Active or Passive support and provide some guidance on the values of support capacity that are recommended for each method.

Slide and Phase2 Workshops in Brisbane and Perth, Australia were a great success. Watch for the next Rocscience Workshops using these programs in June and August, 2012 in Lima, Peru and in Santiago, Chile. For more information, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Past Student Interns, now out in the work force, reflect on what they learned while working at Rocscience. Recent Interns, Charles Allan and Mark Ranjram, finish their second term at Rocscience.

2011

This article describes recent additions to the strength modeling options in Slide, our limit equilibrium slope stability program, which were requested by Snowden Engineering in Australia. Two new anisotropic strength models were implemented. Read More.

Top Project Modelling Slope Failure on Mars Using Slide and Phase2 to assist in confirming that a new impact crater morphology, Peripheral Peak Ring, is valid, as well as gaining insight into the strength parameters of the uppermost layers of the Martian crust.

Modelling Slope Failure on Mars Using Slide and Phase2 to assist in confirming that a new impact crater morphology, Peripheral Peak Ring, is valid, as well as gaining insight into the strength parameters of the uppermost layers of the Martian crust.

ICELAND: A Student Geological Journey - Rocscience was pleased to be a Silver Sponsor for the Laval University Iceland 2011 Geological Field Trip last August. Our Summer Interns made great contributions to the Rocscience software development.

Dr. Thamer Yacoub delivered the second part of the Master's Course in Geomechanics at the Universidad de los Andes, Chile. Interview with Dr. Yacoub in Spanish. Are you interested in seeing us while we are in Australia? Perhaps you would like to join a workshop. Read more.The Workshop on Numerical Modeling and Applications in Geomechanics given in Turkey last month using Rocscience software was a great success.

It has been a longstanding misconception in the geomechanics community that the Finite Element Method (FEM) is not well suited to the analysis of blocky or jointed rock masses, and that Discrete Element Methods (DEM) are the only option. It has recently been demonstrated that the Finite Element Method (FEM) with explicit representation of discontinuities, using Goodman joint elements (JFEM), is a highly credible alternative to Discrete Element Methods (DEM), for a class of blocky or jointed rock problems. Read more.

Top Projects Geodudes Geotechnical Engineers Write Top Project Proposal Prof. Pradel at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a veteran user of the Rocscience Academic Bundle, has for the last five years integrated software modelling using Slide and Phase2 into his Advanced Geotechnical Design course. The project submitted by the Geodudes Geotechnical Engineers of Prof. Pradelâs class got top marks.

Geodudes Geotechnical Engineers Write Top Project Proposal Prof. Pradel at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), a veteran user of the Rocscience Academic Bundle, has for the last five years integrated software modelling using Slide and Phase2 into his Advanced Geotechnical Design course. The project submitted by the Geodudes Geotechnical Engineers of Prof. Pradelâs class got top marks.

With new 64-bit and multi-core parallel processing, Phase2 8.0 is capable of solving much larger and more complex models in less time than ever before. This new version is highly recommended for advanced users who require state-of-the-art modeling features and maximum computational power. The many new features and improvements in version 8 will be appreciated by both new and experienced users alike. For details, Read More...

Top Projects Probabilistic Analyses in Phase2 8.0 With the financial support from CEMI (Center for Excellence in Mining Innovation) and its sponsors, an alternative approach called the Point Estimate Method, a computing efficient probabilistic approximation, has been implemented in Phase2. This should lead to a broader use of the probabilistic approach in the mining industry as well as a better assessment of the reliability level of the design of underground openings.

Probabilistic Analyses in Phase2 8.0 With the financial support from CEMI (Center for Excellence in Mining Innovation) and its sponsors, an alternative approach called the Point Estimate Method, a computing efficient probabilistic approximation, has been implemented in Phase2. This should lead to a broader use of the probabilistic approach in the mining industry as well as a better assessment of the reliability level of the design of underground openings.

Probabilistic Analysis with Phase2 8.0 New tutorials describe the probabilistic analysis features in Phase2 8.0.Advanced Mesh Regions New Advanced mesh option allows you to combine uniform and graded meshes.

Our Winter Student Interns are just finishing their terms at Rocscience. Read about our Asia Tour 2011, lecturing at universities and attending tradeshows.

We are very excited about the new Rocscience website, particularly the new Solutions section, which allows you to find the software you need by simply selecting one of 13 "by USE" pages, or areas of analysis. Read More

Developer's Tips Transient Groundwater Flow Using Slide 6.0 - New Tutorials Transient finite element groundwater seepage analysis is now available in Slide. The first example is an earth dam model, constructed with an initial dry state. The reservoir is then filled and the progress of the water table with time is observed. In the second example, the water level in a dam is drawn down in five stages over the course of 50 days.

Transient Groundwater Flow Using Slide 6.0 - New Tutorials Transient finite element groundwater seepage analysis is now available in Slide. The first example is an earth dam model, constructed with an initial dry state. The reservoir is then filled and the progress of the water table with time is observed. In the second example, the water level in a dam is drawn down in five stages over the course of 50 days.

Golder Associates Africa plans to host a workshop in Gauteng, South Africa: Design and Analysis of Open Pit Slopes Using a 2D Finite Element Modelling Tool, based on the Rocscience software, Phase2.

Geo-Frontiers 2011, Dallas, Texas. Visit us at our booth #913. We recently participated in the VII South-American Rock Mechanics Congress in Lima Peru. The workshop used the Rocscience software.India Tour 2010 - We traveled again to New Delhi to attend the ISRM International Symposium 2010, visit a customer and a university.

2010

Slide 6.0 is here with new features and improvements. Students are using Rocscience software in competitions and in their university courses through the Rocscience Education Program. Read how one professor uses the software as her favorite teaching tool. Rocscience has been on the road again, offering workshops around the world. We always welcome your feedback.

How to use Slide 6.0 to model Multi-Stage Rapid Drawdown to examine the effect on dam stability and factor of safety. In an interview, Dr. Mary MacLaughlin, Montana Tech, talks about how the education program has helped her teaching and her students. Education Bulletin No. 5. Rocscience recently gave a Workshop at Kongsberg, Norway, Finite Element Analysis for Excavations and Slopes Using Phase2Calvin Yan from the University of Waterloo spent his Winter co-op work-term at Rocscience. Read what we need from you in order to answer your Technical Support questions. 44th U.S. Rock Mechanics Symposium in Salt Lake City, UT. Visit us at our booth #16.

Xiao Su investigated the efficiency of a hybrid simulated annealing (HSA) method for finding the minima (critical failure surfaces and factors of safety) of slope stability equations. The HSA combines a Very Fast Simulated Annealing (VFSA) and a Local Monte-Carlo (LMC) search, the latter being an optimization algorithm designed specifically for solving slope stability problems. Xiaoâs work won him two consecutive Sandford Fleming Work Term Report Awards from the University of Waterloo. Click here to read his papers.

Rocscience clarifies our technical support and single and network licensing policies. Read a useful Settle3D tip on using immediate settlement as well as how RocFall analyses compare to CRSP. A geotechnical engineering course uses Rocscience software through the Education Program.

is very important to our customers. Over the years, your input has fueled many of our company discussions, as we formulate our policies on technical support, licensing options and our future software development. In response to one of our long-time user's suggestions, we have added a small improvement to Examine2D.

2009

Learn about shallow cover tunnel design using Rocscience software. Using Settle3D, the effect of changing load magnitude on secondary consolidation is presented as this issue's Developer's Tip. We are in the preliminary stage of planning our fall tour to the United Kingdom. We always welcome your feedback.

Settle3D continues to evolve, with the input of our users around the world. Read about the case history on soil collapse from a well known consulting company. Learn more about using the software through our Developer's Tips and new verification examples. We were again fortunate to have two excellent summer students join our group this summer. We always welcome your This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Using Phase2, learn about the Modeling of Shafts - in particular, how to perform an axisymmetric analysis and interpret the results.

Rocscience hires several students each year to work with our engineers on software development. This summer, we welcomed two excellent students, Franco Chingcuanco from the University of Toronto, and Tushar Verma, from IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Roorkee, India.

Settle3D 2.0 has new features and improved usability. Read about Dr. Evert Hoek's years of experience on the Yacambu-Quibor tunnel project. A free settlement calculator and the future of 64-bit Rocscience software are discussed in our TecNews section. The Rocscience Education Program is ready for a new academic year. We have been busy visiting our customers in New Zealand and Australia. We always welcome your feedback.

Is there a more efficient way to Update my Rocscience software? Read about what's new in our education program in the Rocscience Education Bulletin. We welcome new universities to join.CIM 2009 & RockEng '09 Conferences. Visit us at our booth #1227. Are you interested in a Rocscience Workshop on Finite Element Modelling of Slopes and Underground Excavations in Blocky Rock Masses?

2008

Join the Settle3D version 2.0 Beta Testing Program. Your feedback will be very helpful in the final development stage of this software. Read how network geometries influence how excavations fail and how the user needs to run multiple analyses. See how Boundary Simplification has added speed to our software. Finally, Rocscience will travel to New Zealand and Australia next year. Let us know if you would like a visit! feedback.

Beta testing is an important part of any software development, but it is especially relevant in geotechnical engineering where the breadth and complexity of problems facing the practitioner is remarkable. Settle3D 2.0 is Coming Soon, so join the Beta Program now!

The geometric arrangement of joint networks, in addition to influencing rock mass behavior, causes uncertainty. Read why. You will find out that when modelling excavations in jointed rock masses, One Is Not Enough.

Phase2 7.0: Expanding the Frontiers of Geotechnical Engineering - Read how, with the input from our users, our engineer-developers created this new version which is available today. Our attempt to create a cutting-edge geotechnical engineering software tool would not have been possible without customer input. Your efforts in regularly letting us know what was required to make finite element modeling most practical to everyday engineering has paid off

This month, Rocscience presents a paper and will have a booth at the GeoEdmonton 2008 Conference. As part of our India Tour, Dr. Curran will be giving a paper at the 12th IACMAG conference in Goa, India.

Customer visits, Standard and Customized Workshops, they are now all available! Check out how you can get Rocscience software to run on a Mac, along with some interesting papers describing projects using our software. Also come to our booths in San Francisco, CA and Arlington, VA and let us know what you are interested in seeing in future Rocscience software development. Your comments are always welcome through our feedback page.

Rocscience Finite Element Modeling Workshop in Brisbane, Australia, March 2008 We now offer a wide range of Rocscience Workshops, covering areas in rock and soil slope stability, finite element modeling, settlement and consolidation, and 3D stress analysis. For groups that want to include special projects or topics, you can request a Customized Workshop. Let us know if you are interested and we will try to include your office in our next International Tour.

Settle3D offers the ability to Set a Reference Stage so that you may see the relative effects of a given load. Read 2 new papers, documenting the use of Slide 5.0 in carrying out the Hurricane Katrina study.San Francisco 2008 Symposium this June, will be sponsored jointly by ARMA and CRMA, followed by the 6th International Conference on Case Histories in Geotechnical Engineering, Arlington, Virginia.

We have launched a new Education section on our website, compiling our extensive resources for both educators and students. Learn more about how you can use Rocscience software as a teaching tool in your courses through our Education Program. For courses outside of the university setting, read about our short course opportunities. Also read the newest issue of the Education Bulletin for details on the latest Rocscience offerings.

2007

New for Fall 2007, Settle3D is here. Visit our booth #39 at Geo-Ottawa 2007 for a live demonstration! Or click here for a video demonstration by Jim Hazzard. Also in this issue, a first look at Prof. Paul Youngâs new Rock Fracture Dynamics Lab at the University of Toronto, and a report from our summer students on their experiences at Rocscience. Your comments are always welcome by email through our feedback page.

New Rock Fracture Dynamics Lab Aims to Revolutionize Research in Engineering Geoscience - This new lab, the RFDL at the University of Toronto, is now operational. It is the only facility in the world for testing rock samples under true triaxial stresses, with control of pore pressure and temperature, and the ability to make integrated measurements including continuous acoustic emission recording, acoustic velocity and permeability.

Settle3D is our new consolidation and settlement analysis software, due for release this summer. Tunnel design in weak rock is discussed by Dr. Evert Hoek, and improved printing features have been added to Slide 5.0 as a free update. Rocscience will be busy at four upcoming conferences. Be sure to stop by our booth if you are at any of the conferences. Your comments are always welcome through our feedback page.

Settle3D is our new consolidation and settlement analysis software, due for release this summer. Tunnel design in weak rock is discussed by Dr. Evert Hoek, and improved printing features have been added to Slide 5.0 as a free update. Rocscience will be busy at four upcoming conferences. Be sure to stop by our booth if you are at any of the conferences. Your comments are always welcome through our feedback page.

Examine2D 7.0 is here! This free download is an educational tool for both practicing engineers and students. Dr. Hoek has revised his Practical Rock Engineering course notes and both RocData and RocLab have an important free update for registered users. Your comments are always welcome through our feedback page.

2006

Fall is here, and this issue of Rocnews has an Education focus. Read about an innovative design project from the University of British Columbia, find out what our student interns were up to this summer, and what Rocscience has been doing in the area of education. Also check out our Developerâs Tip on water table extents in Slide 5.0. Your comments are always welcome through our feedback page.

Phase2 6.0 analysis from student presentation and Term Project, University of British ColumbiaGeological Engineering students at UBC tackle geological uncertainty in their Geotechnical design projects - Each year, as part of their course âEOSC 433 â Geotechnical Engineering Practiceâ, Geological Engineering students at UBC take up the challenge of investigating geotechnical design aspects related to a major construction project. Last year, students formed 6 small âconsultingâ groups of 4 students each to study different stability and deformation issues related to different aspects of Vancouverâs Canada Line.University of British Columbia, Earth & Ocean Sciences Dr Erik Eberhardt, P.Eng., Associate Professor, Geological Engineering

A common modeling mistake is to define a water table which does not span the extent of all materials for which it is intended to calculate the pore pressure. Read how to detect and avoid this modeling pitfall using Slide. This summer, three students joined us at Rocscience Inc.Derrick Shum focused on 3D modeling for finite element analysis while Elena Pricoiu worked on further developments in RocProp. Felex Wibowo helped prepare new slope stability models for Rocscience software.

A new set of examples has been added to the Phase2 Slope Stability Verification Manual. Several of these examples are taken from the book titled "Soil Strength and Slope Stability" by M. Duncan and S. Wright. Examples of MSE walls are also included in this manual.

Rocscience was recently in Vancouver for the Sea to Sky 2006 Conference. Our paper on the Performance of the SSR Method on Reinforced Slope Examples continues the research using this method in slope stability analysis.

Check out the new and improved Swedge 5.0, stop by our booth at GoldenRocks 2006 for a demo. Lots of new Slide examples in the latest installment of the Slide 5.0 Verification Manual and in Rocscience's solution for the Slope Stability Problem Session at Geo-Congress 2006 in Atlanta.

How to import strength data from Phase2 into Slide A quick and easy method. Swedge 5.0, an interactive tool for evaluating the geometry and stability of wedges in rock slopes. Release date, July 1, 2006.GoldenRocks 2006 Be sure to visit us at booth #7. Sea to Sky Geotechnique 2006 Canada's premier geotechnical & groundwater conference, visit us at booth #32.

Customers are a valuable resource for software improvements. Read how our users contribute to the software development process and how their work and research helps improve the software for everyone. We welcome your comments and ideas. Contact us through our feedback page.

2005

Access a database of rock properties, easily obtaining the results by geographical area or rock type. This issue of TechNews introduces two new equations proposed by Hoek & Diederichs for rock mass modulus. Rocscience also continues the discussion on SSR analysis with the article, "Ready for Prime Time." Add your thoughts on this exciting new approach using our feedback page.

Photo: The top heading excavation for the Faria Guimaraes station on the Metro do Porto system, E. Hoek. (click photo to enlarge)

Explore the influence of Young's moduli on excavation behaviour. Two students gain valuable summer experience at Rocscience Inc. Peter Chen worked on a database program for rock properties while Chris Doan created a variety of friendly end-user materials.

2004

Discover the power of Phase2 from its use for back-analyzing surface deformations. Participate in the on-going discussion on post-peak strength parameters by sending your views through

A Review of Post-Peak Parameters and Behaviour of Rock Masses: Current Trends and Research â Rocscience and several industry leaders in rock mechanics have been corresponding on the topic of post-peak (residual) rock parameters. The importance of these parameters and their behaviour are summarized. by J.J. Crowder and W.F. Bawden, Lassonde Institute, University of Toronto

Loaded with information to keep you on the cutting edge of geotechnical science, this issue describes the latest techniques for slope stability analysis. See a movie showing how to search for the critical surface using Slide 5.0. Introducing RocSupport 3.0 - read about the newest features in our support estimation program. We welcome your feedback on our content.

Summer 2004

Using Optimization to search for the critical surface with Slide 5.0. RocSupport Now A Better ValueVersion 3.0 provides improved analysis, new features.

What We've Done For You LatelyCustomer feedback leads to free improvements all users can benefit from. Highlights from your contributions to Slide, Dips, RocSupport and more.

In this issue we introduce Slide 5.010, an important update that includes B-bar and Rapid Drawdown for calculating pore pressures. We also explore the effect of stress on underground wedge stability, and show how Unwedge 3.0 can help. Don't miss our always engaging Letters to the Editor. We welcome your

High Angle Technologies shares their approach to Rockfall Risk Evaluation and their experience working on the Upper Stillwater Dam Project in the High Uinta Mountains, Utah. Learn how they approach hazard evaluation and how they get the best remedial measures for their budget dollars.

2003

Introducing two more tools for engineers - RocData, a more powerful version of RocLab, and RocProp, a free database of geotechnical properties. Learn how to use RocFall input parameters more effectively, how to use Slide results in Phase2 and much more.

Fall 2003

Need geotechnical properties data? Got some of your own to share? What if you could access a reliable database containing rock properties from around the world - select any location on a map and have the data at your fingertips? Gathered from trusted sources, intuitively organized with a user-friendly interface, this month Rocscience is releasing a free beta version of RocProp, a database program that does exactly that.

Dr. Laurie Richards, a rock engineering consultant based in New Zealand, outlines a method of identifying wedges by using wedge poles rather than lines of intersection. Click here for article.

Dr. John Curran addresses the question occasionally asked by some of our new customers, "Rocscience. Your applications are for rock, not soil, right?"

Dr. Yacoub will be presenting a paper at the 56th CGS - Two Rivers Conference. Rocscience will also be exhibiting there, booth #26.

In this issue we examine ways to do more sophisticated slope stability analysis. View our Developer's Tips on how to speed up calculations and perform sensitivity analysis using Slide 5.0, as well as an invaluable article on geostatistics.

Spring 2003

Geostatistics in Geotechnical Engineering:A Fad or an Empowering Approach? Rocscience believes that the engineering profession is at a crossroads with regards to geostatistics. Read about the power of the method, understand its concepts and tools, and the role that Rocscience is prepared to play to help ensure the successful application of geostatistics in routine geotechnical analysis. (Image: Contours of a simulated surface).

Slide 5.0 is here! Solve a wide range of slope stability problems using this powerful two-dimensional analysis tool. A free trial version is available upon request. See how Leaders in the Field have used Rocscience software on the job. Also don't miss the Free Shipping coupon below.

Winter 2003

Top 7 Reasons to Use Slide 5.0.This new slope stability release combines a user-friendly interface with outstanding performance, giving the engineer the competitive edge in geotechnical analysis. Slide 5.0 is fast emerging as the solution of choice for slope stability analysis.

Dr. Evert Hoek, leading expert on rock mechanics, discusses the role of the engineer in today's complex design projects and the future of the discipline.

2002

Read about how to put the various search methods in SLIDE to best use, so you can effectivelylocate the minimum factor of safety surfaces. We also explain the new Seismic Loading Optionthat has just been added to Phase2. Don't miss this month's coupon for FREE shipping!

Fall 2002

The primary goal of a slope stability analysis is to determine the potential slip surface which has the overall minimum factor of safety, therefore determining the overall safety of the slope design. Read about the different search methods using the software SLIDE, which automate the task of searching, for either circular or non-circular slip surfaces. (370KB)

MIRARCO is a not-for-profit applied research and service company in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, formed through collaboration between Laurentian University's Mining Research Centres and the private and public sectors.

SLIDE (4.0) is now available! This issue of the newsletter will continue with our presentations on slope stability analysis, models and software.

2002 Volume 1, Issue 3

A Synopsis of Slope Stability Analysis with Slide: Read about the philosophy that has directed the development of Slide and the toolkit it offers to slope designers.

Slope Stability Analysis for Open Pits by Golder Associates Ltd. Read about the common methods used in the design and analysis of the different components of the open pit wall design process.

Golder Associates is a global group of companies providing earth engineering and environmental science services. With highly qualified professional engineers, the company can apply global experience to local programs.

Rocscience has focused this newsletter on the topic, Slope Stability. Example models, consulting work, Developer's Tips and a new Rocscience Project Gallery featured below are all useful to those interested in the latest developments in slope stability analysis.

Enter the SLIDE Contest. You can win $500.00 that can be used for a software purchase. Rocscience would like to increase the number of SLIDE example projects in our Slide Project Gallery. Share your models with other SLIDE users.

2001

Dr. Martin's course CIV E 591 at the University of Alberta included a Geotechnical Design Project. Using Phase2, the students explored many aspects of tunnel design.

The courses offered provide an integrated approach to Geotechnical Engineering through the study of Soil Mechanics, Foundation Engineering, and Geotechnical Design.

Rocscience Inc. will be offering Training Sessions beginning January 2002 on PHASE2 (5.0). If your company would like to arrange a special software training session specific to your needs, please contact us.